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W. R. BUXTON.

GARMENT HANGER.

APPHCATXON FILED FEB. I; #915.

1,1 93,356, Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

N 'r E E INVENTOR. 424% Q jmwm.

W BY

A TTOR NE Y.

WARNER R. BUXTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETT$.

GARMENT-HANGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 1, 1916.

Application filed February 1, 1915. Serial No. 5,359.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, WARNER R. BUXTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Springfield, county of Hainpden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Hangers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment hangers, and more particularly to hangers which are foldable into compact form.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved skeleton garment hanger constructed to be folded into small compass, and to this end the invention, broadly, comprises a central union having two spaced ears between which the shank of a suitable hook is rigidly fastened and on each side of the shank, also between the ears, is a pin (preferably a rivet) on which an arm is pivoted. Each arm is adapted to swing from a substantially horizontal position (slightly below the horizontal) where they abut either the bottom of the union or at their inner ends the sides of the shank, to a vertical position parallel to and closely adjacent the shank of the rigidly mounted hook. In order that the shank of the hook and the two pivoted arms may be individually of small dimensions and take up as little space as possible when folded and still provide with the central union a strong and suitable construction, they are arranged in the same plane and lit snugly between the inner faces of the ears which are spaced just sutficient to receive the hook, shank, and arms. The latter then with the central union forms a strong supporting structure at the vital point and is particularly adapted to carrying out the object of the invention for the individual parts mentioned may each be of small dimensions and still give a proper support by cooperation one with another. The arms mentioned preferably have extensions foldable thereon. The curved part of the hook member in the preferred form of the invention extends very little, if any, beyond the ends of the arms when folded, and, in order to avoid interference with the arms, the outer end of the hook member is offset so that it overlies the outer ends of the arms. This improves the appearance and compactness of the folded article.

Other detailed objects of the invention in its preferred form will be found in the following description and annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown for the purpose of illustration: Figure 1 1s a plan view of a coat hanger, showing my invention as applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts of the hanger in folded position; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale and clearly shows the central supporting structure of the hanger; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the sections of the foldable arms; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a trousers hanger showing the application of my invention thereto; Fig. 7 is a front elevational view thereof; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the parts in folded position; Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. l showing a preferred arrangement of the central supporting structure.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive: 1 represents a central union of relatively light material which is bent into substantially U- shaped form. Mounted centrally between the side walls of the member 1 is a hook 2,

the lower portion of which extends entirely through the member 1 (see Fig. 4:) and is secured thereto by a rivet 12. The upper portion of the member 2 is formed with a hook, whereby the garment hanger may be supported. On each side of the hook 2 are arms 3 which are pivoted to the U-shaped piece 1 at 11. The inner ends of each of the arms 3 are formed with portions 9 (see Fig. 4t) which, when the arms 3 are in the position shown in Fig. 1, abut the sides of the hook, or they may instead abut the bottom of the central union or U-shaped piece 1.

Each of the arms 3 is sub-divided into several sections or the arm pivoted to the central union may be said to have extensions 4, 5, and 6 which are pivoted together in staggered and overlapping relation, as shown. Formed in the under side of the sections 4 and 5 and near the outer ends thereof are notches 8. The inner ends of the sections 5 and 6 are provided with bent lugs 7 (see Fig. 5) which, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, engage in the notches 8 and prevent further downward movement of the sections. These lugs 7 and notches 8 are, in the hangershown in Fig. 2, arranged to permit the sections 4., 5, and 6 of arms 3 to approximate by tangential lines the curvature of the garment to be supported. Obviously, this curvature may be changed as desired by bending the lugs 7 upwardly or downwardly according to whether a curve of long or short radius is desired.

When not in use, the hanger may be folded into the compact form shown in Fig. 8. To permit the sections 4, 5, and 6 to be folded together, the rivets forming the pivotal connection therebetween are countersunk, as shown. The arms 4 are oifset as shown in Fig. 1 so that, when the section 4 has been turned upwardly into parallel relation with the shank of the hook 2, the section 5, when turned to occupy a position directly in back of the section 4, will clear the U-shaped member 1 and the rivet heads protruding therefrom. This offset can be avoided, if desired, by flattening the rivet heads and countersinking the holes therefor.

Fig. 7 shows a garment hanger which is adapted to support trousers. The central supporting structure and the joint between the sections of the arms 3 are identical with the structure already described. The outer sections, however, are formed as shown at 10 in Figs. 6 and 9. The free end of each of these sections is bent backwardly upon itself so that they resemble a hairpin in shape, as will be seen in Fig. 6. Trousers to be supported are brought into the space 13 provided by each outer section 10, and the inward pressure of the free ends of the sections 10, due to the spring action of the material, is suflicient to support the trousers. This hanger also folds together in a manner analogous to that already described, and Figs. 8 and 9 clearly show the compact form into'which the device can be folded.

Thus, I have provided an improved garment hanger which is foldable into compact form, whereby it may be conveniently carried in a pocket or, if desired, placed in a small leather or other container so that it takes up no appreciable room wherever carried. Moreover, I have provided improved connections between the foldable elements which, while simple and adapted for low cost of manufacture, greatly add to the strength and rigidity of the hanger.

The parts are preferably all made of metal, and the arrangement of the parts for the proper distribution of the strains, when in use, permits the use of exceedingly light weight and small metal parts for the improved garment hanger.

It is recognized thatmany modifications in the specific structure heretofore described may be made without departing from the scope of my invention which is more properly defined in the appended claim than in the foregoing specific description.

What Iclaim is Y A folding garment hanger, comprising, a suspension hook and two foldable arms, a central union having two ears spaced apart just enough to receive therebetween the ends of the arms and the shank of the hook all in the same plane, pivot pins connecting the ears on which the arms are respectively pivoted, means to rigidly bind the hook shank to the ears between and close to the pivot pins, said hook and said union forming stops WVARNER R. BUXTON.

WVitnesses:

F. BIEAL7 H. E. HARTWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

whereby the arms may fold together sub- 

